F-35 Maintenance | L3Harris wants to make Mirabel a hub

L3Harris is in talks with those responsible for the F-35 program – including the American giant Lockheed Martin – to make its Quebec facilities a North American maintenance center for this combat aircraft, we have learned. The Press. This would allow its Mirabel site to be a must for the American army.

We are still waiting for concrete examples of the benefits that will result from the purchase of 88 F-35 fighters by the federal government. The steps taken by L3Harris behind the scenes give an idea of ​​the share of the pie that could go to Quebec.

The scenario, if it materializes, would allow the company to carry out heavy maintenance (partial dismantling of the device, repair, engineering, in-service support) of Canadian devices when the time comes, but also to open its doors to the American market.

According to our information, the most recent visit of Lockheed Martin representatives to the Laurentians took place on September 13. The general manager of L3Harris in Mirabel, Ugo Paniconi, confirmed the information.

In Mirabel, L3Harris’ activities are diversified. The company has several customers – it maintains the F-18s of Australia, Spain, Finland and the United States – in addition to performing maintenance on other types of aircraft, such as helicopters.

Neuralgic file

In 2022, the multinational won a contract worth around 610 million to continue maintaining the old CF-18s of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) until the end of their useful life, scheduled for 2032.

For L3Harris, however, it is imperative to be able to accommodate F-35s from the American army to avoid taking a step backwards, even if it wins the contract for the maintenance of the new Canadian fighters.

Starting in 2025, the RCAF’s CF-18s will gradually begin to be scrapped, which will lead to a reduction in the volume of work at Mirabel. This concerns the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), which represents some 630 L3Harris union members.

“If we fail to fill the gap between the two contracts, our industry could see many jobs disappear in the maintenance and repair and overhaul of military aircraft, particularly those assigned to the CF-18,” underlines the union, in a working document that The Press was able to consult.

In this matter, both the IAMAW and the company want the Quebec hangars of L3Harris to be able to serve as a workshop for American F-35s. Ottawa and Washington will have to agree on the issue.

According to Mr. Paniconi, a positive outcome would allow the multinational to ultimately consider expanding its footprint in the Laurentians.

“As for our hangars, we are not talking about major upgrades right away,” he says. Then, we will see if it will be necessary to expand with a phase two. We already have a plan. »

Lots of questions

The Press has already reported that Lockheed Martin will have a lot of leeway in calculating the economic benefits arising from its $19 billion contract with the federal government, which are not governed by contracts.

In the aerospace industry, we are still wondering where the F-35 repair shop will be located and who will train the pilots who will fly the fighters.

The agreements concluded with Lockheed Martin as well as Pratt & Whitney for the F-35 mark a break with usual ways of doing things. They are not subject to the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy (RIT), which imposes requirements on businesses as well as a method for calculating the impact of benefits.

Ottawa has already indicated that the F-35 supplier team will be required to provide an annual report on progress made against its economic benefits obligations, without offering more details.